Song of Solomon 8
Longing for Her Beloved
1
Oh that you were like a brother to me
who nursed at my mother's breasts!
If I found you outside, I would kiss you,
and none would despise me.
2
I would lead you and bring you
into the house of my mother—
she who used to teach me.
I would give you spiced wine to drink,
the juice of my pomegranate.
3
His left hand is under my head,
and his right hand embraces me!
4
I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem,
that you not stir up or awaken love
until it pleases.
5
Who is that coming up from the wilderness,
leaning on her beloved?
Under the apple tree I awakened you.
There your mother was in labor with you;
there she who bore you was in labor.
6
Set me as a seal upon your heart,
as a seal upon your arm,
for love is strong as death,
jealousyt is fierce as the grave.t
Its flashes are flashes of fire,
the very flame of the Lord.
7
Many waters cannot quench love,
neither can floods drown it.
If a man offered for love
all the wealth of his house,
het would be utterly despised.
Final Advice
Others
8
We have a little sister,
and she has no breasts.
What shall we do for our sister
on the day when she is spoken for?
9
If she is a wall,
we will build on her a battlement of silver,
but if she is a door,
we will enclose her with boards of cedar.
She
10
I was a wall,
and my breasts were like towers;
then I was in his eyes
as one who findst peace.
11
Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon;
he let out the vineyard to keepers;
each one was to bring for its fruit a thousand pieces of silver.
12
My vineyard, my very own, is before me;
you, O Solomon, may have the thousand,
and the keepers of the fruit two hundred.
He
13
O you who dwell in the gardens,
with companions listening for your voice;
let me hear it.
She
14
Make haste, my beloved,
and be like a gazelle
or a young stag
on the mountains of spices.
Song of Solomon 8
The Beloved’s Wish Song
1 Oh, how I wish you weret my little brother,t
nursing at my mother’s breasts;
if I sawt you outside, I could kiss you –
surelyt no one would despise me!s
2 I would lead you and bring you to my mother’s house,
the one who taught me.st
I would give yous spiced winest to drink,s
the nectar of my pomegranates.ss
Double Refrain: Embracing and Adjuration
3 His left hand caresses my head,
and his right hand stimulates me.t
4 I admonish you, O maidenst of Jerusalem:
“Do nott arouse or awaken love until it pleases!”
The Awakening of Love
5 Who is this coming up from the desert,
leaning on her beloved?
Under the apple tree I aroused you;s
there your mother conceived you,
there she who bore you was in labor of childbirth.t
The Nature of True Love
6 Set me like a cylinder seals over your heart,ts
like a signett on your arm.t
For love is as strong as death,s
passiont is as unrelentingt as Sheol.
Its flames burst forth,t
it is a blazing flame.t
7 Surging waters cannot quench love;
floodwaterst cannot overflow it.
If someone were to offer all his possessionst to buy love,t
the offert would be utterly despised.t
The Brother’s Plan and the Sister’s Reward
8 We have a little sister,
and as yet she has no breasts.
What shall we do for our sister
on the day when she is spoken for?s
9 If she is a wall,s
we will build on her a battlements of silver;
but if she is a door,
we will barricades her with boardst of cedar.s
10 I was a wall,
and my breasts were like fortress towers.s
Then I found favort in his eyes.t
Solomon’s Vineyard and the Beloved’s Vineyard
11 Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-Hamon;
he leased outt the vineyard to those who maintained it.
Each was to bring a thousand shekels of silver for its fruit.
12 My vineyard,s which belongs to me,t is at my disposal alone.t
The thousand shekels belong to you, O Solomon,
and two hundred shekels belong to those who maintain it for its fruit.
Epilogue: The Lover’s Request and His Beloved’s Invitation
13 O you who stay in the gardens,
my companions are listening attentivelyt for your voice;
let me be the one tos hear it!t
14 Make haste, my beloved!
Be like a gazelle or a young stag
on the mountains of spices.
